Eocene climatic events recorded in dinoflagellate cyst assemblages from the Kopeh-Dagh Basin, NE Iran; a statistical approach

Abstract

To evaluate the climate events of the Eocene, a section of the Khangiran Formation, dated Early–Middle Eocene based on Planktonic foraminifera (P6-P11 zones) was selected in the Kopeh-Dagh Basin of Northeastern Iran and sampled systematically for palynological studies. Statistical notions such as Detrended Correspondence Analyses and Canonical Correspondence Analyses were practiced on the data gathered. Results were plotted and drawn as statistical diagrams for abundance of climate proxy genera and environmental parameters. These suggests a shift from a warm, high-nutrient, low-oxygen environment of inner neritic setting to a relatively colder, less nutrient and high-oxygen outer neritic environment from the Early to the Middle Eocene.